30,000 ShopRite, Stop & Shop employees get new labor contract

CLIFTON – A local union that represents tens of thousands of grocery store workers approved a new labor contract on Monday. The contract which will provide enhanced medical benefits, pension and wage increases.

According to the United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1262, headquartered on Broad Street, approximately 30,000 ShopRite and Stop & Shop employees represented by the union voted unanimously to accept a new labor agreement with their employers.

UFCW Local 1262 president Harvey Whille said the new two-year contract, which is retroactive to Oct. 16, 2011, represents one of the best labor agreements in the Northeast due to unsurpassed health care, a solid pension and across-the-board wage increases.

Union officials said ShopRite will begin issuing retroactive pay on Friday and pay increases will be reflected in employees' March 30 paychecks.

"Local 1262 is known for consistently negotiating pacesetting collective bargaining agreements that have improved working conditions, wages and benefits for our members," Whille said. "As in the past we have negotiated a contract that continues to set the industry standard by providing excellent wages, comprehensive health benefit plans and secure pensions."

Increased competition from non-union food chains and retailers have presented new challenges and led to scrappy negotiations for local unions. To fight non-union employers, local unions now participate in regional political arenas as well as grassroots organizations such as WakeUp Wal-Mart.

First chartered as the Retail Clerks International Association in 1941, UFCW Local 1262 currently represents members in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania employed by retail food industry companies like Foodtown, Pathmark, ShopRite, and Stop & Shop.